Below is the full set of XRF test results for the 2018 U.S. copper penny pictured here:
Details:
Metals not detected are not listed
Tests are done in "Consumer Goods" mode
Testing instrument is a Niton XL3T XRF instrument by ThermoFisher Scientific.
Both sides of the penny ...
Read More about 2018 U.S. “Copper” Penny: 579,100 ppm Zinc & 419,200 ppm Copper. No Lead, No Cadmium, No Mercury, No Arsenic.
Recent & Important Articles:
Older Official Girlscout Badge / Pin: 39,000+/- 1,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
Enamel pins are often high Lead and the scouts have even had recalls for enameled items in recent years (link).
In general I avoid any enamel (from cookware to jewelry) unless I know it has been tested and found to be Lead-free (and Cadmium-free too). The Lead levels are usually just too high to ...
Read More about Older Official Girlscout Badge / Pin: 39,000+/- 1,000 ppm Lead. 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.
Larami Toys brachiosaurus toy dinosaur: 2,213 ppm Lead, 2,721 ppm Antimony. This toy would be illegal if made today.
Scroll down to see additional images, including picture of Dino next to Lego-guy for size!
The amount of Lead that is considered unsafe and illegal in a modern item manufactured for use by children today is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating or anything 100 ppm or higher in the ...
Read More about Larami Toys brachiosaurus toy dinosaur: 2,213 ppm Lead, 2,721 ppm Antimony. This toy would be illegal if made today.
Rainbow Iridescent Mermaid Straws: Non-Detect for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic. #Safe!
For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons ...
Read More about Rainbow Iridescent Mermaid Straws: Non-Detect for Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic. #Safe!
Elara Dolomite Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: Non-detect for Lead
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds):
Barium (Ba): 191 +/- 78 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 9,576 +/- 350 ppm
Copper (Cu): 412 +/- 67 ppm
Iron (Fe): 1,244 +/- 219 ppm ...
Read More about Elara Dolomite Matte Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: Non-detect for Lead
Belvedere Bianco Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 29 +/- 11 ppm Lead (Safe by all standards)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds):
Barium (Ba): 312 +/- 73 ppm
Chromium (Cr): 404 +/- 92 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 23,000 +/- 700 ppm
Copper (Cu): 264 +/- 56 ...
Read More about Belvedere Bianco Marble Look Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 29 +/- 11 ppm Lead (Safe by all standards)
Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Mardi Gras Beads: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free & Arsenic Free (and just $1)
Continue reading below each photo of the different color beads to see the full XRF test results for that color bead.
I often share that because the Dollar stores (Dollar Tree, Dollar General, etc.) have had so many violations in the past they are actually doing a good job of keeping Lead, Cadmium, ...
Read More about Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Mardi Gras Beads: Lead Free, Cadmium Free, Mercury Free & Arsenic Free (and just $1)
Basic Marble Bianco Matte Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 87 ppm Lead (safe by all standards!)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds):
Lead (Pb): 87 +/- 31 ppm
Barium (Ba): 393 +/- 108 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 28,200 +/- 1,100 ppm
Copper (Cu): 147 +/- 69 ppm ...
Read More about Basic Marble Bianco Matte Porcelain Tile from tilebar: 87 ppm Lead (safe by all standards!)
Fortezza Calacatta Antique Tile from tilebar: 329 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe in kids’ items)
When tested with an XRF instrument, the tile pictured here had the following readings (metals not listed were not detected, tests were done for a minimum of 60 seconds):
Lead (Pb): 329 +/- 32 ppm
Barium (Ba): 206 +/- 71 ppm
Zinc (Zn): 17,200 +/- 600 ppm
Copper (Cu): 298 +/- 58 ppm ...
Read More about Fortezza Calacatta Antique Tile from tilebar: 329 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe in kids’ items)
Kitchenaid 2019 Red Silicone & Bamboo Spatula Set: 11 +/- 4 ppm Lead! [Safe by all standards, but…]
In response to testing an older (c. 2010) yellow version of this exact same product (and finding high levels of lead in that product - see it on this link) I decided to follow up and purchase and test a new (2019) version of the product in red. (The yellow appears to no longer be available for sale ...
Read More about Kitchenaid 2019 Red Silicone & Bamboo Spatula Set: 11 +/- 4 ppm Lead! [Safe by all standards, but…]
Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Garden Transplanter Trowel: Lead-Free (and just $1)
For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons ...
Read More about Dollar Tree Store (Spring 2019) Garden Transplanter Trowel: Lead-Free (and just $1)
As Notre Dame burns think of the children of Paris. Potentially worse than Flint – how many have been poisoned by this fire?
Monday - April 15, 2019
Today Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burned.
My first reaction was one of visceral, personal shock and sadness — because I lived in Paris for a year (June 1989 to June 1990) when I was 19 and 20, nannying for a few families and studying with the Theatré du Soliel ...
Read More about As Notre Dame burns think of the children of Paris. Potentially worse than Flint – how many have been poisoned by this fire?
What were you thinking, Kitchenaid?! (c. 2010) Yellow Silicone Spatula: 970 +/- 29 ppm Lead! [90 is unsafe in kids’ items.]
My shopping website has links to Lead-free alternatives for most products:
www.ShopLeadSafeMama.com
Originally posted: April 14, 2019
Updated: March 6, 2020
Update - March 2020:
Since writing this post I have found at least two more high-Lead silicone spatulas. To see all of the spatulas ...
Read More about What were you thinking, Kitchenaid?! (c. 2010) Yellow Silicone Spatula: 970 +/- 29 ppm Lead! [90 is unsafe in kids’ items.]
Crystal bracelet (c. 2014), costume jewelry: 70,700 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 149,600 ppm Cadmium (75 ppm is unsafe.)
This bracelet was one of a matching set that a bride purchased and gave to each of her bridesmaids for her wedding in 2014. There is no brand or maker's mark on it that I can find.
When I tested this I was floored by the fact that it was so recently made and yet had such an incredibly high level ...
Read More about Crystal bracelet (c. 2014), costume jewelry: 70,700 ppm Lead (90 is unsafe) + 149,600 ppm Cadmium (75 ppm is unsafe.)
